Recently returned from a trip to BC. Before leaving we had read all the rules on GST refund. We carefully ensured that all purchases over $50 had the required GST number on the receipt of the purchase. We left by ferry from Victoria back to the US. We were told in Victoria by the people at the Coho ferry to mail in our form with the receipts to receive the GST refund. We did this. But because we mailed the receipts in and did not present them in person, we were not given the refund for any merchandise purchased; only the hotels' GST were refunded. The reason given is that there was no proof that we had not exported our goods.

Thank you for alerting other travellers to this requirement, dona. I'm sorry you had this disappointing and frustrating experience.

In case other prospective travellers want to read more about this, here is a web page that discusses Proof of Export:

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tax/nonresi.../export-e.html

Here is a list of locations at which Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) operates and at which you can get your receipts stamped:

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/contact/l...ex_full-e.html

One of the locations listed under Victoria on the above-mentioned page is Blackball Terminal. Although I've never been on the Coho Ferry myself, I believe that is its terminal in Victoria. If I understand the web site correctly you could have gotten your receipts stamped there (in theory).

In "real life" I'm a technical editor. When I encounter instructions that are less than clear, I believe I find it even more frustrating than the average person does.

In my opinion, the Canadian government's various web pages that deal with the GST refund make it difficult for a reader to realize that he/she needs the Proof of Export stamp and to understand how he/she can go about obtaining that stamp.

The federal government will be hearing from me on this point, just as the City of Calgary has heard from me about the abysmal lack of a sign pointing the way to Banff just as a driver exits Calgary Airport.

I have just re-read your post, and I want to clarify one point. Whoever told you that you could mail in your form with the accompanying receipts was correct -- up to a point. You <b>do</b> have the option of mailing in your refund claim form and your receipts.

However, when it comes to claiming a refund for the GST on goods you've purchased in Canada, you need to get your receipts stamped by a CBSA representative while you still have your luggage with you and before you've parted with your luggage. I don't know how the luggage thing works on the Coho Ferry. However, if you were flying and checking your luggage, you'd need to go to the relevant CBSA rep at the airport before checking in.

The reason for reporting to the CBSA rep with your luggage is to give the rep an opportunity to see the items you say you've purchased if he/she insists on doing so. I've never heard of a CBSA rep actually demanding to see the merchandise, but he/she would be within his/her rights to do so.

Once the CBSA rep has stamped your receipts, you can mail them in.

That extra clarification does not help you, but may help someone else reading this thread.

Thank you again for bringing this to other travellers' attention. Perhaps someone else will be spared the disappointment you've experienced.

Thanks, Judy in Calgary--sure wish I had all this information from you before we had left. Previously we've driven over the border and this has not been a problem for the reasons you described. Yes, the Coho Ferry leaves from the Blackball Terminal. We asked the people at the terminal when we were entering where we could get the GST refund and were told to mail the receipts in. They move you in your car into a fenced-in area and you can't leave that area. Because of the security we had to arrive 90 minutes early so there was certainly plenty of time to have found the office and gotten the recipts stamped. I didn't see anything that resembled an office, but I guess it was there somewhere. Had the instructions stated clearly that the CBSA agent needed to stamp the receipts I think that would have been enough for me to have questioned the people at the Coho Ferry terminal a bit more. As it was since I had read the receipts could be mailed in, I didn't connect the dots...guess 2 weeks in BC thoroughly relaxed me! thanks again for all the info.

Dona, did you also submit your ferry ticket or boarding pass with the receipts?

I ask because the instructions say that ferry passengers do not need to get merchandise receipts stamped but they must include documentation proving that they left Canada.

I mailed our receipts and ferry ticket (to an address in PEI, I think -- maybe yours went to a west coast office?) and received a refund for the exact amount I expected. More details about my experience are in the thread I stared on this topic in July. Click on my name in this post to find it.

Oops, I guess I should clarify -- our UNstamped merchandise receipts and ferry ticket were required to show that we left Canada via ferry and thus did not nee to have the receipts stamped.

Geez, another good piece of advice. Will remember that for future trips. No, we didn't include the ferry receipt. Oh well, I hope Canada enjoys the $100 or so they made off us due to my not fully understanding their directions!